21_tbmerritt_Abolish Fear-Free Grace_Tour

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[Genesis] On February 1, 2021 I was standing outside in the evening air and someone from my past (a former muse) popped in my mind. It had been two years since I had seen or heard from her - always mysterious, always coy and I aloof - I was curious what happened to her and sent thesekind and curious thoughts out to the dark sky, the universe of stars. The next day…boom. An email.

Hey, Thomas :)  Found this lovely email while cleaning my inbox. Long time no talk. Care to fill me in on what you’ve been up to? 

She is now in Spokane, WA. I immediately start planning a trip to Spokane and thus Glacier National Park and since it doesn’t open until late May, might as well head to Cali first. The coast, the mountains, and long-time (one cute) friends are literally calling and as part of my “process” and due to overwhelming stress at work, I resign my position as Director of Design. Immediately after “leaving” my job, I freak out, have an existential crisis, become suicidal, call/text a bunch of people, become manic for a few days, then pray, rest, eat, and sleep. Now I am ready for ministry and clarity.

God reminds me “of the plan”, to invest in myself/my life and hit the road. “What is your problem kid, you are in the same boat as last year, literally, same spot. I have the plan. You just have to trust and obey. I always take care of everything. You just need to get your affairs in order and move your trip up a month, so you can get back her and get back to work. All good and you’re welcome.” So, I obey and am on my way on yet another adventure…I will be looking at a 30 day trip as it works out, but will be in the car half the time mostly driving (80 hours), so can stay very connected especially by phone (hands-free), doing some check-ins, as warranted, and internet and electricity is available. I started a GoFundMe campaign and will be documenting everything via Facebook (private) Group for those who contribute and/or support in a variety of ways.

Glacier National Park was on my list to visit on my return trip from Alaska in 2019, but time constraints caused me to cut this loop from the route. Driving down the Canadian Yukon took longer than expected, so the last time i was on the eastern slope of glacier national park it was circa 2003 and on fire and couldn’t be seen even across the wheat fields of cut bank, Montana, but one morning it cleared and I could see them in the near distance…moody, impressive, majestic.

[Excerpt] I hopped on my second hand, souped-up, partially stolen, aftermarket motocross race bike, kicked it into gear and lead out like a cowboy on his barely broken bronco. the screaming sound dang, dang, dang as i clipped thru the gears and the front tire occasionally lifting off the surface and the rear tire bumping madly over the rock... they (the misty mountains) were farther away than they appeared, but what a morning, what a day, what a time…then one week before thanksgiving the snow started and the okies freaked and we loaded the convoy of wheat cutters, combines, trucks, trailers, and bunkhouses on the flatbeds and let out, headed south, not to return till the wheat grew up thru the Canadian crags of rock called soil. maybe next year will be better, hat in hand, wads of cash stuffed in a sack, granaries full.

The sky was slowly and beautifully falling and these roughnecks were missing their southern homes. we had been gone and it had been a long and hot season. we had many miles to go and diners to haunt, pavement to cross if we were going to make it to Texas in time for peanut season, while the other half of the crew would head east and do the corn across the plains. the life of a migrant farmer.

Me, i was just a [farm] hand, dump truck driver, pig farmer hat-wearing smart ass, educated. someone who would pull a [gravity] knife and put it to your neck if you even looked sideways at em. or directly at his honky-tonk lovin' lady.

...the blade was also good for cutting roses for said lady on a Sunday or a friend laid in the pitch.

Cite: merritt, tb. “merican harvest” Chapter 10 Ed. diane roach. XNA: BCD | Lulu Press, 2022. pp1080-1083.